By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com
The conference volleyball season took a short break this past Saturday for some nonconference midseason tournaments around the Hi-Line. But the conference action was in full swing on Friday night as several teams continued their push toward a regular season title.
The Chinook Sugarbeeters remained unbeaten in District 1B with a 25-91, 25-17, 25-22 win over the Conrad Cowgirls Friday night in Conrad.
Whitney Lybeck banged out 10 kills to lead the Beeters. Crystal Roseberry and Andrea Eslick combined for 18 assists, Monica Thackeray picked up 16 digs and Morgan Obie added seven aces in the win.
But the successful weekend was far from over for Chinook. After arriving shortly after midnight on Friday, the Beeters were back at it early Saturday morning, playing in the Glasgow Invitational tournament.
After a slow start, the Beeters rolled to the tournament title with a 25-17, 25-23 win over former District 2B foe Malta.
"The girls played really well," said Chinook head coach Doug Hayes. "We started out really slow with about 10 hitting errors and four service errors in our first match. We got in pretty late on Friday and had to be up again at six in the morning on Saturday. We might have been pushing the edge a little, but we really came together well."
Indeed, the Beeters had just one loss in pool play - the first match of the day - before advancing to the double elimination tournament. Chinook dominated from there, crushing Harlem 25-15, 25-8 in the opening round and edging rival Glasgow 25-22, 25-19 in the semifinal.
"We got to see some teams that we normally don't get to see and we get to see how we compare with Class A teams like Sidney and Glendive," Hayes said. "It's also nice to play in the tournament atmosphere to help prepare for the district and divisional tournaments."
The Beeters have plenty of reason to prepare for the tournament setting. With a perfect district record and a balanced attack, the Beeters are eying a return trip to the State B tournament.
"We've been very balanced all season which has been a strength," Hayes said. "Whitney's been very consistent and our outside hitters, Morgan and Monica, have been very good. Kassie Dugan has really stepped up and hit well for us. It's nice to know that if one of our players has an off day, we have people there to pick them up."
In District 6C action on Friday, the Blue Sky/J-I Eagles remained in second place with a 25-8, 25-13, 25-18 win over the Rocky Boy Morning Stars. Hannah Pimley picked up eight kills to lead the Eagles. Blue Sky/J-I also got nine assists from Jourdon Han and 21 team aces in the win. Rocky Boy was led by Tori Belcourt, who had three kills, 13 digs, two aces and four blocks.
The KG KouGars stepped out of conference to pick up a 25-19, 25-23, 17-25, 25-21 win over Power. Natasha Dyrland racked up 14 kills and three blocks to lead KG. The KouGars got 23 digs and 10 aces from Whitney Hanson and 19 assists from Janine Jorgenson in the win.
On Saturday, most of the 6C teams converged in Joplin for the Blue Sky/J-I Showcase Invitational tournament. Great Falls Central came away as the overall winner, defeating Big Sandy in the championship.
Chinook def. Conrad
25-91, 25-17, 25-22
Chinook - Kills 26 (Whitney Lybeck 10); Assists 20 (Crystal Roseberry 10, Andrea Eslick 8); Digs 52 (Monica Thackeray 16); Aces 18 (Morgan Obie 7); Blocks 7 (Kassie Dugan 4).
Conrad - Kills 16 (Crystal Zorner 6, Kristi Ries 6); Assists 14 (Ries 8, Christina Westerdorf 6); Digs 17 (Ries 5, Zorner 3, Kassie Fagan 3); Aces 7 (Ries 2, Zorner 2); Blocks 11 (Zorner 5).
KG def. Power
25-19, 25-23, 17-25, 25-21
KG - Kills 43 (Natasha Dyrland 14); Assists 36 (Janine Jorgenson 19); Digs 85 (Whitney Hanson 23); Aces 24 (Hanson 10); Blocks 5 (Dyrland 3).
Power - Kills 17 (Kelsey Kalanick 17); Assists 9 (Annie Toren 9); Digs 40 (Kalanick 12); Aces 9 (Kalanick 3); Blocks 3 (Kalanick 2)
Blue Sky/J-I def. Rocky Boy
25-8, 25-13, 25-18
Blue Sky/J-I - Kills 33 (Hannah Pimley 8); Assists 23 (Jourdon Han 9); Digs 10 (Megan Warren 2, Maia Aageson 2); Aces 21 (Jasmine Mikulecky 3 Melissa Kimmet 3); Blocks 11 (Kaila Warren 3).
Rocky Boy - Kills 6 (Tori Belcourt 3); Assists 8 (Rainbow Stump 6); Digs 55 (T. Belcourt 13); Aces 7 (T. Belcourt 2, Jackie Rock 2, Celeste Belcourt 2); Blocks 6 (T. Belcourt 4).
Glasgow Invitational
(Double-elimination)
Chinook def. Harlem 25-15, 25-8
Plentywood def. Poplar 25-23, 25-18
Sidney def. Wolf Point 25-13, 25-17
Malta def. Saco/Hinsdale 20-25, 25-23, 9-8
Glasgow def. Sidney 25-11, 22-25, 9-8
Malta def. Glendive 25-18, 12-25, 9-2
Wolf Point def. Harlem 25-15, 25-19
Saco/Hinsdale def. Poplar 25-15, 23-25, 9-5
Sidney def. Saco/Hinsdale 22-25, 25-13, 9-4
Glendive def. Wolf Point 25-24, 25-14
Chinook def. Glasgow 25-22, 25-19
Malta def. Plentywood 25-19, 25-19
Sidney def. Glasgow 25-18, 22-25, 9-6
Glendive def. Plentywood 25-18, 25-18
Third place - Glendive def. Sidney 25-23, 13-25, 9-7
Championship - Chinook def. Malta 25-17, 25-23
Blue Sky/J-I Invitational
Pool play
Pool A - Box Elder def. Blue Sky/J-I #1 25-21; Great Falls Central def. Rocky Boy 25-15; Blue Sky/J-I #1 def. Rocky Boy 25-19; Great Falls Central def. Box Elder 25-17; Rocky Boy def. Box Elder 25-12; Great Falls Central def. Blue Sky/J-I 25-15.
Pool B - Big Sandy def. Blue Sky/J-I #2 25-7; Augusta def. Blue Sky/J-I #2 25-7; Augusta def. Centerville 25-21; Centerville def. Big Sandy 25-23; Blue Sky/J-I #2 def. Centerville 25-20; Big Sandy def. Augusta 25-16.
Consolation bracket
Centerville def. Blue Sky/J-I
Box Elder def. Blue Sky/J-I JV
Blue Sky/J-I def. Blue Sky/J-I JV
Fifth place - Centerville def. Box Elder
Championship bracket
Great Falls Central def. Augusta
Big Sandy def. Rocky Boy
Augusta def. Rocky Boy
Championship - Great Falls Central def. Big Sandy
